Can a condom get lost inside a woman? This is a question that concerns many women who use condoms for birth control and to protect against sexually transmitted infections, especially if they have experienced condom slippage during intercourse.
Retrieving the Condom
Approximately 2% of condoms will slip off or break during sex. This is not a common occurrence and is typically due to the condom being used incorrectly. Therefore, it is entirely possible for a condom to slip completely off a man's penis during intercourse and be left in the woman's vagina after he withdraws. This can be alarming and, of course, the condom does need to come out as soon as possible. You don't have to be worried that the condom will become permanently stuck, however, because the cervical opening (that is, the opening between your vagina and your uterus) is not large enough for a condom to go through. The condom cannot go any further than the top of your vagina.
Tips for Finding Condoms Stuck in Vagina
In most cases, if the condom is actually stuck, you won't be able to feel it from the inside in the same way you can't always feel a tampon after insertion. However, you may still be able to reach inside your vagina with a few fingers and pull the condom out. If that doesn't work, consider:
- Asking your partner to give it a try, especially if his fingers are longer than yours.
- Changing positions while reclined.
- Standing up.
- Standing up and putting one leg on a chair.
- Squatting and pushing out at the same time.
- Sitting in a warm bath.
Getting Help to Retrieve the Condom
If you cannot get the condom out of your vagina yourself or with the help of your partner, you will need assistance from a health care provider. There are also a number of potential risk factors that may occur for both you and your partner when the condom slips off during intercourse.
Potential Risks
The following are potential risks associated with condom slippage during intercourse:
- Pregnancy can happen if the condom slips off. If semen is in or near your vagina, you are at risk of becoming pregnant. You may want to consider purchasing emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy.
- Exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. A condom coming off during intercourse can put you both at risk. You may want to talk to your doctor about testing for sexually transmitted diseases as well.
- Infection or irritation can occur if any foreign object is left in the vagina for more than a few hours. If the condom has been retained in your vagina, you may experience symptoms such as discharge, itching, foul smell, and pelvic discomfort.
Most condoms are not biodegradable and will not dissolve or disintegrate inside the vagina.
How Can a Condom Get Lost Inside a Woman?
Because condom slippage does put you at risk for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, it's important to understand the causes of condom slippage so you can prevent it from happening again.
Common Causes
The most common causes of condom slippage are:
- Using a condom that is too large for the size of the man's penis.
- Condom breakage, which is most often caused by using condoms that are old or have been overexposed to heat.
- Not holding the condom against the base of the penis when pulling out.
- Not rolling the condom far enough up the penis before use.
- Not immediately withdrawing after ejaculation. A condom is designed to be used on an erect penis. Once the penis becomes flaccid, the condom will always become loose.
Avoid Getting a Condom Stuck Inside
If condom slippage happens more than once with the same partner, definitely try a smaller size condom. You might meet with less resistance from your male partner if you purchase the smaller size in a different brand of condom than you have been using.
Finally, sometimes condom slippage happens because the man hesitates to withdraw immediately after ejaculation if his partner hasn't yet reached orgasm. If this is the case, you might want to suggest to your partner than he switch to manual stimulation after he has completely withdrawn his penis.
Don't Give Up on Condoms
If you have experienced a problem with condom slippage, had to ask the question "can a condom get lost inside a woman?" or even needed to make a condom retrieval clinic visit, you might feel embarrassed or even be inclined to stop using condoms. Instead of feeling embarrassed, you should feel proud that you are taking responsibility for your sexual health. Condoms are an excellent way to prevent both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections and, if they are used correctly, are more than 98 percent effective.
